View of the Papal Mass from the Press Box

Kevin O’Brien, SJ, got a different view of the Mass at Nationals Stadium April 17. He was helping Channel 9’s news crew from anchor booth high above home plate. It was a long day – Fr. O’Brien arrived for work at 2 a.m., hours before Pope Benedict arrived. But the view was spectacular, he said. He recalled the sun rising over the stadium, the arrival of the first people and the view of the Capitol far behind the altar. “It was really beautiful,” he said.
            Working with both Catholic and non-Catholic journalists, Fr. O’Brien helped explain what was going on during the entire celebration, while encouraging a respectful silence at important moments of the Mass. And, Fr. O’Brien said, he was struck by the silence in the stadium during the consecration and when Placido Domingo sang Panis Angelicus. He missed having the opportunity to concelebrate Mass, but his panoramic view, praying with the TV news crew during Mass, and the opportunity for catechesis made it worthwhile. “That was moving,” he said.
            Fr. O’Brien was asked to serve as one of the local commentators by a member of his Holy Trinity Parish, a member of the Archdiocese of Washington’s papal visit committee. Once Fr. Jim Shea agreed, Fr. O’Brien went for a day of media training with the archdiocese with four other priests who helped out on other stations. Fr. O’Brien worked with Channel 9 for several days before the Pope’s arrival, as well as during the days Pope Benedict was in Washington.
            On the day of the Mass, Fr. O’Brien was on air 5-7 a.m., as well as through the Mass. He heard positive comments for the station’s blend of explanation and “respectful silence.”
            “Holy Trinity got a lot of good recognition for the week,” he said.